BBA or B.Com: What should you choose!!

B.Com (Bachelor of Commerce) or BBA (Bachelor of Business Administration), which is the course I should take up? It’s one of the most common tertiary education questions we field. The more traditional B.Com is giving way to BBA as the economy changes and the demand of trained business administration professionals sees an upswing.

As BBA emerges as an important course option to pursue after completing your 10+2, an unfortunate lack of proper information has left a lot of students confused, leaving them to make misguided decisions. Since the final choice rests with the student, here’s some information to help clarify their doubts.

What is BBA?

The BBA course, a three-year undergraduate degree, focuses highly on developing business skills. Theoretical education is backed by practical experience which may include summer internships, industry visits, presentations, and case studies. With an aim to foster future leadership and entrepreneurial ability, the syllabus of the BBA course combines the theory of Management Information Systems, finance, marketing, and human resources.

Eligibility

The eligibility for BBA is less strict than it is for B.Com. Institutes in general consider permissible any student who’s passed 10+2 in any stream with at least a 50% aggregate.

Prospects

There are two broad courses of action–an entrepreneurial venture or a management job. These are the best reasons to do a BBA instead of a B.Com. Another viable choice of course is to do an MBA after pursuing a  B.Com.

A BBA degree will secure you an entry-level job at most companies in a management position, but growth opportunities can be possibly limited unless you plan on pursuing an MBA degree from a reputable institute as well. While cracking the CAT might seem like a monumental task, once you’re in a highly ranked B-School, a BBA degree will go a long way in making the final leg of your formal education smooth. This is because the advanced MBA course material will be much easier to handle with the firm fundamentals you’ve gained during your BBA.

It is important that, as a student, you constantly pursue internships or part-time opportunities to complement your undergraduate experience with on-the-job training which will make you a good job candidate. BBA graduates can look forward to jobs in the following industries.

·        Banking

·        Consultancy

·        Finance

·        FMCG and Consumer Durable companies

·        IT companies

·        Advertising agencies

What is B.Com?

A three-year undergraduate degree course, the Bachelor of Commerce or B.Com is a traditional post-class 12 option in India, similar to Bachelor of Science (BSc) or Bachelor of Arts (BA). Available at most universities, the highly theoretical B.Com syllabus provides an intense look into the fundamental subjects of commerce like Accounts, Administration, Finance, Economics, and Industrial Policy.

Eligibility

A pass state in mathematics is a must for students pursuing B.Com, though the course is open to both, science and commerce graduates.

Job Prospects

B.Com has proved itself and much more. Its solid theoretical grounding is brilliant for careers in finance, or really, just about any numbers-related field like taxation or accountancy. It’s practically mandatory for those looking to pursue CA/ICWA/CS, to have done Bachelors in Commerce. A two-year M.Com (Master of Commerce) from a reputable university after a B.Com further qualifies you for leadership positions and state-level examinations. Placements, while not difficult, may not be qualitative unless the degree has been pursued from a renowned college like SRCC, Delhi. Pursuing an MBA in Finance is another good way to cement your career while maintaining your roots in commerce. a B.Com graduate can work in different industries such as:

·        Banks

·        Consultancy firms

·        Tax Practitioner

·        Junior Accountant

The Divide between BBA and B.Com

If you’re good at crunching numbers or want to pursue a career in formal financial fields like CA then a B.Com can be a great choice. Though you can pursue an MBA after a B.Com, a managerial MBA is better backed by a BBA background, especially if further supplemented by solid post-undergraduate work experience.

On the other hand, BBA launches you head first into a professional career after class 12; it’s much more skill specific than a B.Com.